Tilting dump truck mud flap assembly

ABSTRACT

A mud flap assembly for a dump truck or the like having: an upper flap mounted to the dump box; and a lower flap carried by a support element which is suspended by flexible members from the dump box and is connected to the vehicle frame by a pair of spaced rockable members carrying stops for limiting the downward movement of said support element, and hence the lower flap, when the dump box is raised for unloading.

United States Patent France et a].

[ Feb. 26, 1974 [54] TILTING DUMP TRUCK MUD FLAP 3,580,604 5/1971Overend 298/1 SG ASSEMBLY 3,195,921 7/1965 Robinson.... 280/1545 R2,653,846 9/1953 Wiley 298/] SC [75] Inventors: Jimmie J. France,Roanoke; Fred J.

Neubert; Eugene L. Caldwell, both of Peoria; Howard w er; ax PrimaryExaminer-Robert G. Sheridan E- Sutton, bOIh f washlngton, an AssistantExaminerHoward Beltram 0f Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert J. Eck

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company,

Peoria, 111.

[22] Filed: May 24, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl 256603 A mud flapassembly for a dump truck or the like having: an upper flap mounted tothe dump box; and a US Cl 298/1 280/1545 lower flap carried by a supportelement which is sus- 293/69 298/17 pended by flexible members from thedump box and is [5 m- CI- p 362d g 67/24 connected to the vehicle frameby a pair of spaced Field Of Search 280/154-5 9 rockable memberscarrying stops for limiting the 298/1 SG, 17 downward movement of saidsupport element, and hence the lower flap, when the dump box is raisedfor [56] References Cited unloadi g.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,760 /1955 Lapham et al 298/! SG 10 Claims, 6Drawing Figures I A f I Q PATENIED FEB 2 6 I974 SHEET 1 [1F 2 TILTINGDUMP TRUCK MUD FLAP ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to dump trucks and I more partucularly to amud flap assembly therefor.

I-leretofore it has been the practice of manufacturers of load carryingvehicles, such as dump trucks, to exclude fenders over the rear wheelsof the vehicle. Accordingly, oftentimes mud, stones, rocks, etc., wereprojected rearwardly thereby creating an undesireable condition.Attempts have been made to eliminate this undesireable condition bysuspending mud flaps, or splash guards, from the vehicle immediatelyrearwardly of the rear wheels.

The provision of mud flaps, however, has been unsatisfactory in manyrespects. For example, upon raising the dump box for unloading, the mudflaps would contact the ground so that: if the vehicle were movedrearwardly, the rear wheels would run over the flaps; and if forwardly,the load would pin the flaps, resulting in the mud flaps being torn fromtheir mountings. Therefore, the mud flaps would have to be frequentlyreplaced, thereby increasing the cost and decreasing the reliability.

Moreover, in recent years the SAE recommended practice SAE J-32lA setout the uniform tire coverage in terms of minimum structuralrequirements for fenders or the like when a vehicle is in normalposition and when the specified maximum travel speed exceeds miles perhour. Although the recommended practice is entitled fenders, protectionmay be accomplished by other means: i.e., the peculiar structure of thevehicle, such as the dump box and/or attachments thereto. Accordingly, amud flap of substantially flexible material may be included as a fenderextension or as part of a fender.

The present invention complies with SAE .I-32lA recommended practice andavoids the heretofore undesireable condition by featuring a two-part mudflap assembly. An upper flap is suspended from the vehicle frame havingits lower edge normally presented between the horizontal tangent of thevehicle tire and the center line thereof. A lower flap is mounted to asupport element which extends transversely of the vehicle and issuspended therefrom by a plurality of flexible members. In normalposition the upper edge portion of said lower flap is locatedimmediately adjacent to and parallel with the lower edge portion of theupper flap. The support element is fixed adjacent its ends to one end ofa pair of swingable arms located on opposite sides of the vehicle andbeing rockably connected to the frame. As will be further described inthe detailed description, when the dump box is elevated, as in thesituation where unloading takes place, the swingable arms rockdownwardly a predetermined distance at which time they engage a stop forterminating the downward movement of said support element. In thismanner, the lower mud flaps never touch the ground and, therefore, arenot susceptible to being pinned under the rear wheels of the vehicle orburied under the dumping load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of adump truck vehicle having a mud flap assembly consructed in accordancewith and embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view with portions broken away to illustrate the mudflap assembly.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the flexibleconnection of the upper mud flap to the vehicle dump box.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a suggested fender arrangement inaccordance with SAE specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate like corresponding parts,there is shown in FIG. 1 a vehicle 20, such as a dump truck or the like,having a mobile frame 21, supported above ground g by front and rearaxles 22, 23, respectively, each having wheels, collectively designatedW, rotatably mounted on their end portions in usual fashion. It will beunderstood that the rear axle 23 may have dual supporting wheels asillustrated in FIG. 2, single wheels, or tandem wheels with an auxiliaryaxle, without departing from the present invention.

Carried on said frame 21 is a cab 24 and a tiltable. dump box 25 whichis pivotally mounted thereto, as by a pivot pin 26, for movement betweenraised and lowered position responsive to the energization of conventionhydraulic rams, as at 27, interconnecting the frame 21 and the tiltabledump box 25 at a point forwardly of said pivot pin 26. Said dump box 25has a width substantially the same as the rear axle 23 and a rearwardportion 25a which projects spacedly rearwardly beyond said rear wheels Wto substantially overlie same. Suspended immediately rearwardly of therear wheels W is a mud flap assembly A constructed in accordance withand embodying the present invention.

Said mud flap assembly A comprises upper and lower mud flaps 28, 29 eachbeing fabricated from a resilient, substantially flexible material, suchas the customary fabric impregnated rubber sheet. Both upper and lowermud flaps 28, 29 are reinforced in their upper portions by a pair ofbands 30, 31 (FIG. 3) and 32, 33 (FIG. 4), respectively, which bands arepresented on the opposed faces of the related mud flap and securedtogether as by a plurality of bolts 34.

Fixed to the reinforcing band 31 of said upper mud flap 28 are at leasttwo chain links 35, 36 (FIG. 2) positioned spacedly inwardly from therespective end portions thereof. Received within each chain link 35, 36is another chain link 37, 38, respectively, each of which is suitablyfixed to the rearward portion 25a of dump box 25. The interengagement ofchain lins 35, 37 and 36, 38 permits of limited swingability forreducing the likelihood that the upper mud flap 28 will shear orotherwise tear, and maintaining the upper mud flap 28 in substantiallyplanar normal relationship with the horizontal tangent t during movementof the dump box 25 between raised and lowered position. When the dumpbox 25 is in its lowered position, the lower end edge 28a of the uppermud flap 28 is presented spacedly below the horizontal tangent t of therear wheel W but spacedly upwardly of the center line c; and when thedump box 25 is in its raised position, said lower end edge 28a isspacedly above ground g (FIG. 1).

Fixed to the forward face of band 33 of the lower mud flap 29 are a pairof end links 39, 40 of a chain 41, 42, respectively, being relativelyshort in length. Each chain 41, 42 incorporates another end link 43, 44,respectively, each of which is fixed to a support element S comprisingan elongate transverse bar 45 extending across the width of the vehicle20. Referring to FIG. 2 it will be observed that the mud flap assembly Ais identical in every respect on the opposed sides of the vehicle 20.Therefore, only one side will be described, it being understood thatlike elements on the other side of vehicle 20 will be designated by likereference characters in order to facilitate understanding and to avoid Iunnecessary repetitive explanation.

Integrally formed with the transverse bar 45 spacedly inwardly from itsend extremity is a lug 46 having an opening 47 for receiving one endportion 48 of a flexible member 49, such as a chain, the other endportion 50 being suitably fixed to the rearward portion 25a of said dumpbox 25. For added stability, auxiliary flexible members, as at 51, maybe provided for connecting the transverse bar 45 with the rearwardportion 25a of the dump box 25, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is shown a dog legbracket 52 having one end portion 53 fixed to the frame 21 and thedepending end portion 54 provided with an aperture 55 through whichpasses the shank 56 of a bolt 57. Received over the shank 56 is a spacersleeve 58 having end peripheral edges engaging one face of opposedwashers or flanges 59, 60, respectively, the other face of washer 59engaging a nut 61 threadedly engaged with said shank 56, and the otherface of said washer 60 engaging the dog leg bracket 52 to retain thespacer sleeve 58 in desired attitude. Slideably received over saidspacer sleeve 58 is a swing arm 62 having an opening 63 of greaterdimension than the diameter of spacer sleeve 58. The swing arm 62 isadapted to pivot about said spacer sleeve 58 at a point spacedlyrearwardly from its forward end portion; said opening 63 being presenteda predetermined distance x from the forward end edge of said swing arm62. The washers 59, 60 serve as limits for the swing arm 62 when thelatter moves laterally on said spacer sleeve 58.

The rearward end portion of said swing arm 62 is integrally formed withsaid transverse bar 45 at a location spacedly inwardly from the vehiclerear wheel W. The swing arm 62 thus rocks about spacer sleeve 58responsive to the raising and lowering of the transverse bar 45, as willbe further described hereinbelow.

Welded or otherwise secured to the forward end portion of said swing arm62 is a stop 64 which is disposed in normal relationship to the plane ofsaid swing arm 62 and adapted to engage a stop plate 65 fixed to saiddog leg bracket 52 within the path of movement of said stop 64.Therefore, when the dump box 25 is raised, the transverse bar 45 will beproportionately lowered with said swing arm 62 rocking about said spacersleeve 58 until the stop 64 engages the stop plate 65 whereupon downwardmovement of the transverse bar 45 will cease.

Referring to FIG. 6, the minimum tire coverage requirements of the SAErecommended practice is illustrated. The SAE recommended practiceprovides that the minimum tire coverage required for all units on alevel surface should have coverage rearwardly of the tire from a pointabove the horizontal tangent t to a units. Therefore, it be understoodthat the mud flap assembly described hereinbelow also extends to saidvehicles.

OPERATION In operation, with the dump box 25 in its normal, loweredposition, the upper and lower mud flaps 28, 29 cooperate to form anoccluding plane for blocking any debrise thrown rearwardly by therotation of said rear tires W. As the dump box 25 is pivoted about pivotpin 26 into raised position, the upper mud flap 28 will be lowered withthe rearward portion 25a of the dump box 25 until its lower end edge 28ais spacedly above ground 3, as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 1.The length of upper mud flap 28 is designed so that the lower end edge28a will never touch the ground g. Simultaneously the lower mud flap 29will be lowered through the lowering of transverse bar 45; the swing arm62 pivoting about said spacer sleeve 58, until the stop 64 engages thestop plate 65 of the dog leg bracket 52 for precluding further downwardmovement of the transverse bar 45. At this juncture, the lower end edge29a will be spacedly from the ground and the upper flap 28 and the lowerflap 29 will be in substantially parallel overlapping relationship, asillustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 1.

Although the mud flap assembly A has been described as having atransverse bar 45 extending completely across the rear portion of thevehicle 20, it will be understood that separate flap supportingstructure may be developed without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. Moreover, although the upper and lower mud flaps 28,29 are illustrated as a unitary construction for dual rear wheels, itwill be understood that separate mud flaps for the respective rearwheels may be utilized as well.

Accordingly, the present invention complies with the SAE recommendedpractice and alleviates the hazards heretofore present. Additionally,through the use of the mud flap assembly A of the present invention, thelifetime of both upper and lower mud flaps will be enhanced as neithermud flap will be pinned by the rear wheels or buried under the loadduring dumping.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to obtainby Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a vehicle having a frame and a tilting dump boxpivotally mounted on said frame for movement between lowered and raisedposition, and apparatus for supporting a mud flap comprising:

A support element carrying a mud flap;

First support means attachable to said dump box to carry said supportelement when said dump box is in said lowered position;

Second support means independent of said first support means attachableto said frame to carry said support element when said dump box is inraised position and to maintain said support element at a predetermineddistance above ground.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

Said first support means comprising at least one flexible membersuspending said support element from said dump box so that the supportelement lowers and raises therewith.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

Said second support means comprising a rockable member connected to saidsupport element;

Means pivotally connecting said rockable member to said vehicle frame topermit the lowering of said rockable member with said support element;

Stop means on said frame for limiting downward movement of said rockablemember after said support element has been lowered a predetermineddistance as the dump box is moved into raised position for dumping.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

Said rockable member comprising an arm having end portions, one endportion being fixed to said support element, the other end portion beingfree;

Said means pivotally connecting said rockable member to the frameincluding a bracket fixed to said frame and a pin interconnecting saidarm with said bracket.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

A stop plate carried by said bracket and presented within the path ofmovement of said arm, said arm being adapted to engage said stop plateafter said support element has moved downward a predetermined distance.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by saidstop plate being located adjacent the free end portion of said arm.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

A stop mounted on the free end portion of said arm and projectingnormally outwardly therefrom, said stop being adapted to engage the stopplate of said bracket when the arm has swung through a predeterminedare.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

A spacer sleeve received over said pin;

Flange means provided on the opposed ends of said spacer sleeve;

Said arm having an-opening for receiving said spacer sleeve, saidopening being of greater diameter than the diameter of said spacersleeve for permitting said arm to move laterally therealong during rock-5 able movement.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

Said support element comprising an elongate transverse bar extendingacross said vehicle;

A mud flap presented on opposed ends of said transverse bar;

Said second support means comprising a pair of arms fixed to said bar ata point spacedly inwardly of said mud flaps; I

Means rockably mounting each arm to said vehicle frame;

Stop means located within the path of movement of each arm for limitingdownward movement thereof when said dump box is moved into raisedposition for dumping.

10. A mud flap assembly for attachment to a vehicle having a framesupported by wheels and a tilting dump box pivotally mounted to saidframe for movement between raised and lowered position comprising:

' An upper mud flap suspended from said dump box, said upper mud flaphaving a lower edge normally presented spacedly upwardly of the centerline of said wheels; 7

A lower mud flap suspended from said dump box,

in substantial horizontal alignment with said upper flap lower edge;

A support element connected to said upper end edge of said lower flap;

A rockable member having end portions, one end portion being fixed tosaid support element; the other end portion being free;

A bracket fixed to said frame;

Means pivotally mounting said rockable member to said bracket at a pointspacedly from said free end portion; I p

A stop plate fixed to said bracket and presented in the arc of movementof said free end portion;

A stop fixed to said free end portion adapted for engagement with saidstop plate to preclude downward movement of said support element aftersame has been lowered a predetermined distance.

said lower flap having an upper end edge presented

1. For use with a vehicle having a frame and a tilting dump boxpivotally mounted on said frame for movement between lowered and raisedposition, and apparatus for supporting a mud flap comprising: A supportelement carrying a mud flap; First support means attachable to said dumpbox to carry said support element when said dump box is in said loweredposition; Second support means independent of said first support meansattachable to said frame to carry said support element when said dumpbox is in raised position and to maintain said support element at apredetermined distance above ground.
 2. The invention as defined inclaim 1 and further characterized by: Said first support meanscomprising at least one flexible member suspending said support elementfrom said dump box so that the support element lowers and raisestherewith.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by: Said second support means comprising a rockable memberconnected to said support element; Means pivotally connecting saidrockable member to said vehicle frame to permit the lowering of saidrockable member with said support element; Stop means on said frame forlimiting downward movement of said rockable member after said supportelement has been lowered a predetermined distance as the dump box ismoved into raised position for dumping.
 4. The invention as defined inclaim 1 and further characterized by: Said rockable member comprising anarm having end portions, one end portion being fixed to said supportelement, the other end portion being free; Said means pivotallyconnecting said rockable member to the frame including a bracket fixedto said frame and a pin interconnecting said arm with said bracket. 5.The invention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: A stopplate carried by said bracket and presented within the path of movementof said arm, said arm being adapted to engage said stop plate after saidsupport element has moved downward a predetermined distance.
 6. TheiNvention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said stopplate being located adjacent the free end portion of said arm.
 7. Theinvention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: A stopmounted on the free end portion of said arm and projecting normallyoutwardly therefrom, said stop being adapted to engage the stop plate ofsaid bracket when the arm has swung through a predetermined arc.
 8. Theinvention as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: A spacersleeve received over said pin; Flange means provided on the opposed endsof said spacer sleeve; Said arm having an opening for receiving saidspacer sleeve, said opening being of greater diameter than the diameterof said spacer sleeve for permitting said arm to move laterallytherealong during rockable movement.
 9. The invention as defined inclaim 1 and further characterized by: Said support element comprising anelongate transverse bar extending across said vehicle; A mud flappresented on opposed ends of said transverse bar; Said second supportmeans comprising a pair of arms fixed to said bar at a point spacedlyinwardly of said mud flaps; Means rockably mounting each arm to saidvehicle frame; Stop means located within the path of movement of eacharm for limiting downward movement thereof when said dump box is movedinto raised position for dumping.
 10. A mud flap assembly for attachmentto a vehicle having a frame supported by wheels and a tilting dump boxpivotally mounted to said frame for movement between raised and loweredposition comprising: An upper mud flap suspended from said dump box,said upper mud flap having a lower edge normally presented spacedlyupwardly of the center line of said wheels; A lower mud flap suspendedfrom said dump box, said lower flap having an upper end edge presentedin substantial horizontal alignment with said upper flap lower edge; Asupport element connected to said upper end edge of said lower flap; Arockable member having end portions, one end portion being fixed to saidsupport element; the other end portion being free; A bracket fixed tosaid frame; Means pivotally mounting said rockable member to saidbracket at a point spacedly from said free end portion; A stop platefixed to said bracket and presented in the arc of movement of said freeend portion; A stop fixed to said free end portion adapted forengagement with said stop plate to preclude downward movement of saidsupport element after same has been lowered a predetermined distance.